Wool bagging machine with plunger having spring actuated plate



c. o. POLAND ,778 WOOL BAGGING MACHINE WITH PLUNGER HAVING SPRING ACTUATED PLATE Dec. 23, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 19 1950 (Iv/W455 0. Pam/v0.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. Ham 5.: 0, P01fl/VD, %Tf0Z/YKi POLAND WOOL BAGGING MACHINE WITH PLUNGER HAVING SPRING ACTUATED PLATE Dec. 23, 1952 Filed Jan. 19, 1950 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 WOOL BAGGING MACHINE WITH PLUNGER HAVING SPRING ACTUATED PLATE Charles 0. Poland, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative Association, Iuc., Indianapolis, had, an agricultural cooperative Application January 19, 1950, Serial No. 139,359

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a wool bagging machine and more particularly to a plunger construction for use therewith.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a wool bagging machine having a plunger which will pack the wool fleeces in a bag in a firm, compact manner.

ihe conventional way of bagging wool is by manual effort. A man is required to get into the large wool bag and stomp down upon the fleeces as they are thrown in by a helper. In order that the fleeces will be packed down firmly not only in the center of the bag but around the edges thereof as well, the Worker ordinarily keeps one foot in the center while he stomps down with the other around the perimeter of bag interior. This task is laborious and time consuming. In hot weather it is extremely distasteful and unpleasant, and has a very bad effect upon the morale of the workers. The present invention dispenses with the need for manual bagging and consequently removes the above mentioned disadvantages.

It is a further object of this invention to increase the speed with which a wool bag may be packed. By using five men to perform all necessary operations it is possible to pack approximately 30 bags per hour. On the other hand in order to pack the same number of bags by using the heretofore employed methods, it takes nine men to operate four old style packing frames.

It is a still further object to provide a plunger construction which will not harm the fibers of the wool fleeces and yet will pack the fleeces firmly and compactly. The present invention is of such construction that 2,000 pounds of pressure may be applied against the fleeces without in any way harming the fibers.

It is a still further object to provide a plunger construction which will make it possible to pack more fieeces within a bag than is possible through the use of the conventional methods. In view of the expense of the bags used, it is obvious that there will be a savings resulting from the use of fewer bags per thousand pounds weight.

It is a still further object to provide a plunger construction which will enable pressure to be applied in a gradual uniform manner so that the bags will not be torn or ripped as they frequently are through the use of the conventional bagging methods. It is a well recognized fact that bags are frequently re-used and through such continued use become somewhat worn. In the conventional method of bagging, the worker packing the fleeces must jump from the packing frame into the bag interior. In so doing he frequently rips or tears particularly those bags which have become somewhat worn through use, thereby rendering them useless. With the present invention, however, it is possible to apply the force exerted by the plunger in a gradual and uniform manner, thereby reducing the chances of the bags becoming torn. In the event the bag does start to rip or tear, the operator of the plunger can immediately release the pressure and avoid further damage.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a partially filled sack, with a plunger lowered, but just prior to applying pressure to the contents.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the pressure head, with arm shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and in the direction of the arrows, with parts thereof shown in elevation, and the travel of the pressure head shown by dotted lines.

In the drawings the entire wool bagging machine is shown in Fig. 1. It is portable, being movable on the caster wheels l0. Mounted upon a steel platform I l is the hydraulic power system I2 from which the motivating power is derived. At [3 is shown a double acting, nonrotating, stationary hydraulic cylinder with its reciprocating piston M. The upper extremity of the piston is connected to the clevis l5. A pair of opposed outside channel members [6 is secured to the steel platform H and these extend upwardly therefrom. The inner face of these members serves as a guideway for the opposed inside channel members I! which are telescopically movable to and fro therewithin. The movement of the inside channel members I! is controlled by the piston M, the clevis to which the piston is secured being connected to the cross bar l8 which joins the upper extremities of the inside channel members.

In order to make possible the travel of the plungersupporting-frame id at twice the distance of the inside channel members, there is provided a sprocket and chain connection. This includes a metal plate 25 which extends between the inside channel members and is secured to the plunger support frame 19. This plate is movable vertically relative to the inside channel members, there being provided pulleys or the like (not shown) which permit the plate to ride up and down on the inner faces of said inside members. One end of sprocket chain 25 is secured at 22 to said movable metal plate. This chain is mounted about pulley 23 which is rotatably connected to the inside channel members construction. The opposite end of said chain is fixedly secured adjacent a stationary brace 24 which bridges the space between the outside channel members. A second chain 25 has one end similarly fixedly secured adjacent said brace. The opposite end thereof is secured at 26 to the movable metal plate. This chain is mounted about the pulley 27 secured to member 28 which rides up and down within an inner guideway formed in the stationary outside channel members. Complementary chain members and pulleys to those described above are provided on the opposite side of the inside and outside channel members. As a result of this construction, once the piston I i is forced upwardly by the hydraulic power, the inside channel members to which the piston is connected are likewise forced upwardly a like distance. However, the plunger supporting frame !9 to which the metal plate 23 is secured is automatically moved upwardly twice the distance by reason of the chain and pulley construction above described. The upward movement of said plunger supporting frame is controlled by chain 24 while the downward movement of said supporting member is controlled by chain 25.

Associated with the steel platform H is the brace 29 to which is secured the leg 36 having a caster wheel 31. This brace and leg together with the additional braces 32, 33, 36, and 36 support a metal platform 31 upon which the operator of the device may stand.

Extending to one side of the inside and outside channel member construction above described, and above the platform 3! is a rather substantial table 38, upon which wool fleeces are thrown by one of the workers. This table has a metal backstop 39 to help confine the fleeces within the desired area.

Formed in the fleece supporting table is an aperture 40 of such a size to permit the plunger, shown generally at ii, to be moved with ease therethrough. lhe walls forming the aperture are so constructed and arranged as to be capable of making the aperture larger or smaller, as desired. Since this construction is not a part of this invention it is not described in detail.

The plunger construction proper is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. It comprises a generally circular, free floating plate 53 from which depends an inwardly tapered intermediate portion 44 and an inwardly tapered head or rammer portion 55. The plate 43 together with its depending portions is suitably secured to the rods 41, ii! and 4%! and is movable vertically therewith. The upper portion of each rod extends through an aperture formed in each of the radially extending arms 50a which are connected to the collar 50 enveloping the plunger supporting frame i9 which itself is H-shaped in cross-section. The collar may be adjusted vertically relative to the frame l9 through the use of the set screw 5|. to vary the tension upon the coil springs 52 which envelope each of the rods 48, ll, 33 and 52. These springs are positioned between the lower face of each of the radially extending arms and the upper face of a stop member 52a secured to the rods. A generally circular rim or guide 53, closed at its upper end but open at its lower end is provided, and the metal plate 43 is adapted to move to and fro relative thereto. The rim serves as a guide for the rods 56, 41, 48 and 49.

When fleeces are to be packed, the operator first places a bag 54 about a ring 55, it being preferable to draw the ends of the bag upwardly within the ring and then pull these ends downwardly a slight distance about the outside of the ring. The ring, together with the bag hanging therefrom, is then seated on the shoulders 56 formed at the bottom portion of the aperture 66. Wool fleeces are thrown by one worker onto the table 38 from where a worker standing upon the platform 31 grasps them and throws them through the aperture into the bag. It is, of course, necessary that at this stage the plunger together with its supporting frame be elevated a sufficient distance above the aperture to permit the fleeces to be thrown therethrough into the interior of the bag. After several fleeces, shown at 51, are thus placed Within th bag, the hydraulic power is applied forcing the plunger construction downwardly into the interior thereof and into engagement with the fleeces. After the plunger has been moved downwardly a certain distance the tapered head 55 will first engage the fleeces. As the plunger is moved further down, the intermediate portion i l will engage the fleeces. Finally the free-floating plate 43 will engage them. But the downward movement of the plate and its depending portions is stopped by the resistance of the fleeces once that resistance is greater than the tension of the springs. Yet the plunger-supporting-frame and the rim or guide will continue downwardly a slight distance, enveloping the plate. In other words the downward movement of the plate is stopped by the. resistance of the fleeces while the downward movement of the frame and guide is stopped by the operator releasing the hydraulic pressure. The entire plunger construction is thereupon moved upwardly to a position outside the bag. It is to be observed, however, that immediately upon the release of downward pressure by the operator and the commencement of the movement of the construction to a position outside the bag, the resilience of the fleeces tends to urge them upwardly in the same direction as the construction. In order to eIfect a clean withdrawal of the construction and prevent fleeces from being inadvertently pulled out thereby, the downwardpressure of the springs holds the plate and its depending portions in engagement with the wool for a slight period of time while the rim or guide is being withdrawn. Once the springsare fully extended relative to the guide, the plate is, of course, withdrawn with the guide.

In the event it is desiredto increase the pressure exerted by the springs, so that it takes greater resistance by the fleeces to stop the downward movement of the plateand its depending portions, it is possible to adjust the collar 53 downwardly.

By reason of the above described action the fleeces are packed firmly and compactly within the bag. The construction accomplishes the same action (although much more effectively) that is accomplished in the conventional method of wool packing wherein a worker stands in the interior of the bag using one foot as a pivot point and stomping with the other around the perimeter of the bag interior.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The embodiment described herein as well as matter which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

1. A plunger construction for a wool bagging machine and the like having power means and means for holding open the bag to be packed, comprising a member movable by said power means in and out of said bag, said member having a generally cylindrical base portion of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said bag and being open at its lower end, and free floating wool ramming means associated with said member and normally movable therewith, said means comprising a generally circular plate of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said base portion and having a centrally positioned inwardly tapered nose portion depending therefrom, a plurality of radially extending arms connected to said member and overlying said base portion, said arms each having an aperture formed therethrough adjacent its free end, vertically disposed elements extending through said apertures and connected at their lower ends to said plate, resilient means enveloping said elements and normally urging said plate to an extended position below said base portion, said base portion and said plate being axially displaceable relative to each other upon engagement by the latter with wool deposited Within said bag, said axial displacement being yieldingly resisted by said resilient means.

2. A plunger construction for a wool bagging machine and the like having power means and means for holding open the bag to be packed, comprising a member movable by said power means in and out of said bag and having a generally cylindrical base portion of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said bag, the lower end of said base portion being open, and a free floating wool packing device associated with said member and being normally movable therewith, said device comprising a generally annular plate of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said base portion and being concentric therewith, said plate having a centrally positioned inwardly tapered nose portion depending therefrom, a plurality of radially extending arm portions connected to said member in vertical spaced relation above said base portion, said arms each having an aperture formed therethrough adjacent its free end, a rod element extending through each aperture and through aligned apertures formed in said base portion, said elements being connected at one end to said plate and having a stop shoulder formed intermediate their ends and above said base portion, resilient means enveloping said elements and interposed between said 60 stop shoulders and said arms, said resilient means normally constraining said plate to an extended position below said base portion, said portion and said plate being axially displaceable relative to each other upon engagement by the latter with W001 deposited within said bag.

3. A plunger construction for a wool bagging machine and the like having power means and means for holding open the bag to be packed, comprising a member movable by said power means in and out of said bag and having a generally cylindrical base portion of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said bag, the lower end of said portion being open, and a free floatin wool ramming device associated with said member and normally movable therewith, said device comprising a generally circular plate of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said portion and being concentric therewith, said plate having a centrally positioned inwardly tapered nose portion depending therefrom, a collar connected to said member in spaced relation above said base portion and being adjustable vertically relative to said member, a plurality of radially extending arms connected to said collar and having an aperture formed therethrough adjacent their free ends, vertically disposed rods extending through said apertures and being connected at one end to said plate, said rods having a stop shoulder formed intermediate their ends above said base portion, and a coil spring enveloping said rods, for yieldingly urging said plate to an extended position below said portion, one end of said springs being seated upon said stop shoulders and the other end abutting the lower face of said arms, said base portion and said plate being axially displaceable relative to each other upon engagement by the latter with wool deposited within said bag, said springs yieldingly resisting said displacement.

CHARLES O. POLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,712 Cailleaux Nov. 3, 1885 1,686,259 Sedita Oct. 2, 1928 1,881,106 Vogt et al Oct. 4, 1932 2,046,367 Collins July '7, 1936 2,208,830 Bassett, Jr July 23, 1940 2,369,305 Lobasso Feb. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 473,153 Germany Mar. 11, 1929 

